Here’s the video evidence set to New Slang by The Shins.

(Video provided by Paula Marcoux–And sorry but that is not the late Christopher Lee making a cameo at :49)

While the masses stumble about in a pumpkin spiced haze, savvy Plymouth CRAFT people know there’s more to Autumn than imitation flavor-

Riving and Hurdlemaking Weekend is coming up-October 28-29th at the Pinewoods Dance Camp, the same camp where Greenwood Fest is held. Peter Follansbee, Pret Woodburn and me will help you build your own hurdle-gate and work with you to refine your green woodworking techniques and understanding of wood grain and edge tools. All levels of experience are welcome. There’s food created by the amazing Paula Marcoux and cozy lodging is available at the camp. Sign up soon-spots go fast.

See you next time?

Here’s the video:

and other picked up pieces…

Woodworking

…and other craft is ultimately an exercise in patience.

Working on some old window sash recently with my wife-who has INFINITELY more patience than I do–it occured to me just how much I had to recalibrate after a summer of swinging axes, running saws, and pounding chisels. I learn a lot watching Kim work. It’s not so much a gearing down–the work is just as intense. It’s more like taking a breath, observing smaller detail and using a smaller grouping of muscles. I tend not to yell as much when I’m repairing windows. So much can be accomplished with patience. I wish I had more of it.

Half-ball

…is a ball and stick game played with a tennis ball cut in half and a broomstick. Follansbee used to play this urban game on the mean streets of Weymouth, MA.

In ye olden tymes, we’d dust off the dregs of a long day, find a wall to pitch against, and play this game with an old shop broom.

This traditional street game needs to be taught to our youth, even those from the verdant cul-de-sacs.

Here’s the windup and the proof that even joiners can throw a pretty good curve:

and other picked up pieces…

Ospreys know what they like–fish and John Lee Hooker. Every time that blues genius queues up on our little speaker at the Jones River boathouse site, those river hawks come ’round chattering. I don’t have the (makes finger quotes) science to back that up, but you know, it’s John Lee Hooker.

Another reason to love wood–

Michael’s door (above–destined for the Mirbeau site) is made out of cedar. It was sawn from–get this–recycled telephone poles! This western red cedar withstood 80 years of nor’easters and osprey nests until it was “felled” and sawn into boards and planks by our friends at Gurneys Sawmill. We first used it on our free-range, organic treehouse (I swear we’ll get back to that topic) and we’ll keep finding ways to recycle these old yankee poles.

Speaking of wood, mark the difference between a locust trenail and a white oak trenail. Both will do the job:

We made these pins for the joint of a Peter Follansbee original:

These decorative flourishes weren’t part of the initial build of our recent timber framed bridge. But the braces running up from post to beam were deemed a little too low and a potential head-banger. No problem. We raised the braces up the posts about half a foot. This left a gaping, unfilled mortise in the post. What to do?

When life gives you ADA requirements, make lemonade!

Beautiful as they are, I had a panic attack driving the pins, with all that short grain. I’ll share that panic attack with you, dear reader, with this annoying GIF.

Needless to say, the draw-bore was very slight:

Great work as always, Mister Follansbee. One of Peter’s birds told me that there’s going to be a Follansbee spoon-carving video out later this summer. Keep posted to his blog for the latest.

Meanwhile, Father’s Day is coming up…jus’ sayin:

We’ve got a couple of projects continuing this summer/fall:

The Hatch Mill, in Marsh-Vegas, Mass, is an old water-powered sawmill which needs some TLC from MLB Restorations. With help from some plucky studentia of the North Bennet Street School–we’ve stabilized the lower frame and we will continue to bring it toward the community’s goal of making it a working mill once again. Stay tuned.

The Norwell water tower (below) is one of only a few remaining in our part of the world.

The restoration of this unique building is at once challenging and exciting. Like my dog is at once a loyal companion and a vacuum cleaner. More to follow.

Finally, some of us are headed to England for a few weeks. We’re consulting on the rebuild of some stairs for a little tower in London.

Any-the-hoo, BLUE OAK will keep you up to date on our internationally friendly forays.